QMI Agency

“I spent 90 percent of my money on women and drink. The rest I wasted.” – former Irish winger George Best.

Paul Slane just wanted to numb the pain of a career gone awry.

The Scottish midfielder admitted to using cash he received from Scottish Premier League club Celtic after he was released from his contract in January to go on a four-day bender in Amsterdam rather than use it for surgery as originally intended.

“I got a £10,000 (US$15,250) pay-off from Celtic for what was left of my contract and most of it was to cover the costs of my hip operation,” Slane told the Scottish Sun Tuesday.

“But I spent over half of it on nights out — and Amsterdam cost me a fortune.

“I was completely stupid. I totally overdid it. I spent a lot of money on drinks for my pals. There were also a few hookers.

“I thought, ‘Why shouldn’t I just go out and have a good time?’ When I look back over those few weeks I’ve got no idea what I was doing or why — I went a bit crazy.”

The 21-year-old also posted photos of his escapade – including ones of him naked with prostitutes – on Twitter. Shortly afterward, he claimed they were fake and that his friends were playing a prank on him. He now admits they were real.

“I lied about being with them because I was embarrassed. I was worried about how my folks would react,” Slane said.

But at the time, Slane said he couldn’t help himself.

“I’d tell (my mates), ‘Look, I’m getting an operation later, but for now let’s just have a good time.’ Others realized I’d been through a lot and that I should just be left be. But it all went too far. My head was up my arse. I was living in a bubble. I wasn’t taking anything in.

“I feel so guilty about it all now and what I did to my mum, dad and the rest of my family.”

During an injury-riddled stint with Celtic that started in February 2010, Slane only made eight appearances – once with Celtic, five times with English League One club Milton Keynes Dons and twice with Scottish First Division club Partick Thistle.